Best posts made by silverfox

@greenflashlight

Right now I'm just trying to focus on the fact that he had a good life - much much better than the hoarding situation he came from. He had a cat BFF in the ragdoll of the woman who adopted him, and a mommy who loved him.

I turned this into a gif for @Ganymede to use again some day.
Sugar thinks eating my fingers is fun.

https://giphy.com/gifs/wAagkR8Zyo5IkB489L

My shelter's director and right hand adoption facilitator are on a mission to try to trap some kittens spotted behind a local (lol, that makes it seem uncommon... it isn't) Marijuana dispensary. If they can catch them we will emergency foster until they can find a permanent foster.

Husband isn't happy I said yes to it, but agreed as long as he gets to name them Indicia and Sativa.

I STARTED to go fold Laundry, but then my husband said the pot babies were hungry and to go feed them.

(They didn't really want to eat.)

Calypso is NOT HAPPY she isn't allowed in because the pot babies are still in quarantine.

I didn't realize that raising her while fostering would cause an obsession with the fosters. I thought once she was older she would mostly just not care.

Why yes. I did watch that whole thing and then fell into a YouTube hole. Thank you very much.

This is a good puppy.

https://giphy.com/gifs/crufts-bearded-collie-colin-skeaping-5ns6dF52k99daL0qXj

I can't get my family to understand this but I really love that when I go visit them I get put to work doing whatever household chores need done.

At Christmas I helped lay wood flooring in my mother's house. Currently I'm at my older sister's house and I have done the dishes, located a missing dog, washed walls in preparation for painting, scrubbed vents, taped off walls for painting, and painted. Moreover I've run to the store for last minute food, walked dogs, picked up my nephew's flu meds, etc. They are stupid little things, but I honestly love them.

I enjoy them because I get the feeling of accomplishment as well as knowing I've helped someone not myself. Moreover it means that I'm doing something as we catch up and not just sitting there awkwardly. Most importantly I'm not sitting alone in my house.

Sister keeps apologizing for putting me to work and I try to explain but I don't think she will ever quite get it.

I known isn't the intention when people make these comments, but my brain always twists these kinds of suggestions (x worked for y, why don't you do it?) to this:

"I am now judging you for not doing <thing they suggested> to help with <symptom, disease, complaints>. You must not actually be hurting all that bad if you aren't going to try this."

The thing that stuck out the most to me was that his teachers and doctors communicated.

Hell, I wish parents communicated more with schools when they're doing things with kids meds. Then I can be a partner in it. If they don't tell me though all I can do is react to the behaviors. "X put a pencil in the wall socket today." "Y was sitting upside down in his chair and kicked another student." "Z decided to go to b room instead of a room to calm down today and we couldn't find him for a half hour." All of these things happened and I only found out after that they'd been doing things with their meds after - sometimes not until WEEKS or MONTHS after when they casually mention something in parent teacher conferences or an email.

If I'd KNOWN what was happening I could have changed procedures, been more lenient on consequences, whatever the kiddo needed.

Partner with your teachers parents. Please. If there's a coping mechanism that you use - SHARE IT WITH US. If you're going to do stuff with meds, let the teachers know. Also, teachers are busy. If you've started a new med, about a week later, EMAIL US or CALL US. Ask, "Hey, how is X doing since he started the meds? Have you noticed anything?" We are with your kids 6-7 hours a day in the structured environments where we're going to notice the biggest changes.

Also. #rantcontinues - If your home life is crazy (five kids, husband works the early morning shift and can't help you so you rely on your 12 year old to get the four younger kiddos ready, and each of them has unique special needs and thus the meds get taken super sporadically) please god, bring the meds to school and let our nurse give them to the kids in the morning. There is zero shame in this and it'll protect your kids from some ill effects if they're not getting bounced on and off meds because the 12 year old forgot to badger their five year old brother to remember because he is a twelve year old and can barely remember what HE is suppose to be doing. We want to help. We won't ostracize your kiddo for needing meds.

The BEST relationships I've had with parents are when they are open with me. I had one boy who literally couldn't function without his meds. His parents were really good about making sure he had them and kept me in the loop every time something change (he grew like 5 inches and 20 pounds that year.) I appreciated SO MUCH when I got that text in the morning going, "X happend! He didn't get his med and I can't come in, I'm so sorry!" When he walked in I was prepared to help him. When he kicked a classmate on accident because his brain had suddenly decided he had to get up RIGHT THEN and do a cartwheel he didn't end up suspended, in the office, anything. He wasn't even penalized for it. We had a restorative conversation with him and the girl and it was FINE.

TL;DR: Please communicate with teachers about your kiddos needs, especially when meds come into the equation.

They are putting a fence around the new dog area they made right outside my apartment! This means the dogs will get to go off leash, and better, I can watch the dogs be cute in a safe environment!

Tiny happy feeling. I started a news-centric thing with my kiddos and they asked "how do they decide what becomes news?" Even after ten years married to a professional reporter I am not totally sure.

So I called my husband and asked if he (or anyone he knew) might be interested in speaking to my kids about it.

He asked in the break room at work and got an instant volunteer. One of the most experienced reporters in Denver's market is coming in this morning to be peppered by questions by my students.

It is pretty cool.

All the babies got spay and neutered today.

Charley is high af.

Husband and I have made a commitment to buy from small and/or independent places this Christmas as much as possible.

So: Do you make and sell stuff on an online shop? Do you have a family member or a friend who does? Do you have a cool shop you love to buy from?

Drop your links here. I'm not asking for specific styles or things because I don't want to limit the options promoted. Maybe someone else will find something they love.

Thanks!

@ganymede

Within the first ten seconds of being out of the crate she was up on my shoulder.

The last two from our munchkin litter go home on Tuesday!

This baby is TROUBLE. Everyone loves her on sight. She even charmed the people we use for spay and neuter which is HARD since that is ALL that place does and they see sooooo many kitties come in and out.

She will probably go in next week for adoption and will have a dozen apps in the first two days.

@cupcake

EDIT:

My original reason for coming to this thread...

Indi and Sati's new mommy emailed the shelter with some pictures of them in their new home and it has made my DAY.

Guys, if you adopt, tell your shelter how it's going, send some pics. It is ALWAYS appreciated.

We took our holiday guest back today because an adult intro-suite opened up. Starla is an absolute sweetie who will be the BEST cat for someone. She is scared of the other cats in the shelter but hopefully will adjust.

She changed SO MUCH since being in foster care. She had one baby and fought like HELL at first to protect him. We were afraid she was feral from how fierce she was.

Now she is just a total love bug. I had to be in bed last night because of pain and she was ALL over me. Rubbing against my face, flopping for belly rubs... just

They didn't let us stay fosterless for long! Another person surrendered this sweetie today. She is about five months old but not super socialized. HE KEPT HER IN A CAGE AND NEVER GAVE HER A NAME!!!

This is her right out of her cage:

And after hearing our Calypso's voice through the door:

Clearly Calypso told her this was a safe and good place to be!!

I'm sorry this is scary for you.

My heart hurts for your kid's school though. Having kids go back and forth adds an insane amount of stress. It was that which led me personally to have a mental health crisis that led to the police knocking on my door to do a wellness check.

I know it seems like it doesn't make sense to you why it isn't allowed. You care about your kid and that is exactly what you should be. I am in no way saying what you are doing is wrong.

It is just so. Freaking. Hard. to teach or be in education right now.

I didn't believe my shelter director when she said that January is the best month for adult cats to get adopted. (Fewer kittens born/avaliable with the holiday adoptions, people feeling like some mature companionship, etc.) But damn if she wasn't right. We have had sooooo many adults adopted the last two weeks. A couple were kitties that have been at the shelter for years - long enough to be a total institution. Despite there still being 60+ cats at the shelter it feels EMPTY without them. I made the food on Saturday and ended up making easily 7-8 cans too much.

I'm soooo happy for all of them being able to go to their forever home.

We actually had to tell people we just didn't have a kitty that matched what they were looking for. Most of the cats we have left are a) bonded pairs, b) recovering ferals who just aren't safe to adopt out, as shown by the scratches on the back of my legs where Tuffy got mad I turned my back on him, c) sanctuary cats who are too sick to be adopted out.

One of the adoption counselors is now eyeing the local shelters and their Texas connections and wondering if it is time for another rescue trip since we have the space. (TWO FULL ROOMS EMPTY!!)

If they are playing with their own toys in a corner I generally help the other child who wants to join in to go and find different kids or start up a game with them

If they are using plaything equipment or school toys they 100% cannot exclude anyone, everyone can play.

Additionally if they are letting other kids join but not this one particular kid, then they have to let this kid join also. Deliberate exclusion IS bullying by every accepted school definition.

From what has been said, and knowing there is probably more to it, because there always is, kids are complicated, this is what I would have suggested:

1. Comfort the excluded kid, and make sure they are calm.
2. Ask if they want my help talking to the other kids.
3. Have the other kids come over and have the child explain how they feel (I would sometimes pre-coach on how to say it using I statements)
4. Give the other kids a chance to explain their side one at a time.
5. Review the rules above, and either lay down an edict that the child must be allowed to play if they are using equipment or others are allowed to join, and explain a consequence if I hear this happening again.